Door holder assembly

Abstract: An overhead mounted door holder assembly (10), for attachment between a door jamb (14) and a door (12) to hold the door in an open position includes a jamb bracket (16) attached to the door jamb and a jamb arm (18) pivotably attached to the jamb bracket. A channel assembly (22) having a channel (23) is attached to the door. A slide assembly (26) is disposed within the channel and is pivotably connected to the jamb arm. A slide catch (38) on the slide assembly is provided for the door holding function. First and second springs (32, 33) are attached to the channel assembly and positioned within the channel and a spring mounted catch (28) is attached to the first and second springs. In operation, the spring mounted catch is pivotably positioned in the channel to engage the slide catch and reversibly hold the door in an open position.

Description: This invention relates generally to door holder assemblies and more particularly to an overhead mounted door holder assembly having a low profile suitable for mounting in a door top inset. It is often desired to hold a door temporarily in an open position for convenience and safety. One commonly employed method of doing this uses an overhead mounted door control device that includes a pivoting arm attached between an upper portion of a door jamb and an upper part of a door. When the door is to be held open at an angle not exceeding about 110 degrees, an overhead mounted door control device is efficient, effective, convenient to install and maintain, is less subject to damage by vandalism or accidents and does not present a stumbling hazard. It would be very desirable to have an overhead door holder assembly that is durable, easy to install as an inset into the top of a door and replaceable with minimal effort and expertise. The door holder should be set to permit easy engagement, to hold the door against minor amounts of jostling contact without release and yet to still permit closing the door without undue effort. It is desirable that such a door holder should not require special tools for installation or maintenance but it should have features that prevent its damage from violent or forceful door opening. The door should automatically be held in an open position after it is swung open a predetermined angle and should be easily released from its held open position when desired. US-A-4 750 236 discloses a typical track-type door hold-open device according to the preamble of claim 1. According to the present invention, there is provided a door holder assembly for attachment between a door jamb and a door, the assembly comprising means for pivotally attaching a jamb arm to a door; a channel assembly for attachment to the door and having a channel therein and door holding means within the channel assembly comprising first and second springs connected to a spring mounted catch pivotable relative to the channel around a pivot point, and a slide assembly pivotally attached to the jamb arm and position for longitudinal movement within the channel, the slide assembly having a slide piece supporting a hook and a wall, characterised in that the spring mounted catch is able to move longitudinally a limited distance relative to its pivot point, the wall engaging the spring mounted catch when the door is force fully, opened, such that the catch slides longitudinally, thereby distributing the force of the door opening to the springs, and the pivoting movement of the catch enabling the hook to engage the holding means to hinder a subsequent door closure. The invention also extends to a door incorporating a door holder assembly essentially as just defined. For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a low profile overhead mounted door holder assembly that includes a channel assembly inset into a top of a door; Figure 2 is a side view illustrating a spring support for first and second springs, a spring mounted catch retained to pivot about a pin, and a slide assembly; Figure 3 is a side view similar to that in Figure 2, showing a hook of the slide assembly in engagement with the spring mounted catch; Figure 4 is a side view similar to Figures 2 and 3, showing the hook of the slide assembly engaging the second ramp of the spring mounted catch in a door hold open position; and Figure 5 is a side view similar to Figures 2, 3 and 4, with the slide assembly sufficiently advanced toward the first and second springs to engage a wall of the slide assembly with the spring mounted catch, forcing simultaneous compression of the first and second springs to absorb the shock of violent door opening. Figure 1 shows a door holder assembly 10 having a channel assembly 22 positioned in a door inset 20 at an upper edge 13 of a door 12. The channel assembly 22 is attached to the door 12 so that its generally U-shaped channel 23 is upwardly open. Position for movement within the channel 23 is a slide assembly 26. The door holder assembly 10 also includes a jamb bracket 16 fixed to a door jamb 14. A jamb arm 18 is pivotally connected at one end to the jamb bracket 16 and at its opposite end to the slide assembly 26. In preferred embodiments, the jamb bracket 16, jamb arm 18 and channel assembly 22 are formed from brass or other durable, wear resistant material such as steel. When the door 12 is closed, the slide assembly 26 is positioned at the opposite end of the channel 23 from a spring support 24. As the door 12 is opened, the pivoting connection of the jamb arm 18 between the jamb bracket 16 and the slide assembly 26 causes the slide assembly 26 to move along the channel 23 toward the spring support 24 until it engages a spring mounted catch 28 that temporarily and reversibly holds the door in an open position. This held open position is illustrated in Figure 1, which shows the door 12 in almost wide open state rotated about 100 degrees relative to the door jamb 14. The spring mounted catch 28 and the slide assembly 26 are illustrated in a non-engaged position in Figure 2. At an end closest to the slide catch 38, the spring mounted catch 28 has a projection consisting of opposing first and second ramps 39 and 40. Near or about its centre, the spring mounted catch 28 has a longitudinally extending channel 29 therethrough, to allow retention of the spring mounted catch 28 by a pin 30 attached to the channel assembly 22 and passing through the channel 29. At the end opposite the ramps 39 and 40, the spring mounted catch 28 is connected to first and second springs 32 and 33. Both springs 32 and 33 have substantially equal spring constants and resistance to compressive force. The first spring 32 is connected to the spring mounted catch 28 on one side of the channel 29, while the second spring 33 is connected to the spring mounted catch 28 on the other side of the channel 29. The pin 30 defines a pivot point which permits a pivoted, rocking movement of the spring mounted catch 28, which can both rotate and longitudinally move a limited distance by compression of one or both of the springs 32 and 33. The slide assembly 26 includes a slide piece 42 having a hook 44 for engagement with the spring mounted catch. In addition, the slide piece 42 has a substantially flat wall 46 for engagement with the spring mounted catch 28 as the slide assembly advances to contact the catch 28 during a forceful door opening. The slide piece 42 is connected to a jamb arm 18 through an aperture 48 by a connecting pivot 43 to allow sliding movement of the slide assembly 26 along the channel 23 as the jamb arm 18 moves in response to opening or closing of the door 12. Operation of the assembly 10 in its capacity as a door holder and forceful door opening impact absorber is best illustrated by sequential consideration of Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, which illustrate positions of the slide assembly 26 relative to the spring mounted catch 28 as the door 12 is opened. More particularly, Figure 2 shows the hook 44 of the slide piece 42 immediately before contact with the first ramp 39 of the spring mounted catch 28; Figure 3 (with jamb arm 18 and connecting pivot 43 omitted for clarity) shows the position of the hook 44 on the first ramp 39 as continued motion of the slide assembly 26 toward the spring support 24 causes pivoted movement of the spring mounted catch 28, with the first spring 32 being compressed a greater amount than the second spring 33; Figure 4 shows the position of the hook 44 against the second ramp 40 to hold the door in an open position; and Figure 5 shows the position of the wall 46 as it impacts the spring mounted catch 28 to transfer force of violent door opening to the springs 32 and 33 and absorb shock impact that could damage assembly 10. Reversal of this sequence simply and efficiently disengages the door 12 from the hold open position.

Claims: A door holder assembly (10) for attachment between a door jamb (14) and a door (12), the assembly comprising means for pivotally attaching a jamb arm (18) to a door; a channel assembly (22) for attachment to the door and having a channel (23) therein and door holding means (38) within the channel assembly (22) comprising first and second springs (32, 33) connected to a spring mounted catch (28) pivotable relative to the channel (23) around a pivot point (30), and a slide assembly (26) pivotally attached to the jamb arm (18) and positioned for longitudinal movement within the channel (23), the slide assembly (26) having a slide piece (42) supporting a hook (44) and a wall (46), characterised in that the spring mounted catch (28) is able to move longitudinally a limited distance relative to its pivot point (30), the wall (46) engaging the spring mounted catch (28) when the door is force fully opened, such that the catch (28) slides longitudinally, thereby distributing the force of the door opening to the springs (32, 33), and the pivoting movement of the catch (28) enabling the hook (44) to engage the holding means (38) to hinder a subsequent door closure. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein a spring support (24) is attached to the channel assembly (22) at a fixed position within the channel (23). An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second springs (32, 33) are longitudinally positioned in the channel (23) in spaced apart relationship to each other, with both springs having substantially equal spring constants and resistance to compressive force. An assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the spring mounted catch (28) has a channel (29) with a pin (30) attached to the channel assembly extending through the channel (29) in the spring mounted catch. An assembly according to claim 4, wherein the first spring (32) is connected to the spring mounted catch (28) on one side of the channel (29) in the catch (28) and the second spring (33) is connected to the catch (28) on the opposite side of the channel (29), thereby permitting limited pivoting movement of the spring mounted catch (28) about the pin (30). An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the spring mounted catch (28) has a first ramp (39) slidingly to engage the hook (44) of the slide piece as it advances toward the first and second springs (32, 33) and a second ramp (40) to hinder release of the hook (44) from the catch (28) as the slide assembly (26) is forced away from the first and second springs. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second springs (32, 33) are positioned to resist compression and absorb door opening force as the slide assembly (26) impacts the spring mounted catch (28). A door incorporating a door holder assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

Inventors: COLEMAN MICHAEL D, LOTURCO RAYMOND A, COLEMAN, MICHAEL D., LOTURCO, RAYMOND A.
Applicants: VON DUPRIN INC, VON DUPRIN, INC.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E05C17
IPC codes: E05B15, E05C17